Cooper

Welcome! You’ve been missed. Always enjoyed reading your posts. Hope you’ll stick around & keep us company.

Message from the Moderator: You have already started a thread in the Lounge called, “I Love a Good Pun”, and another in the Comedy/Tragedy Forum called, “These Just Make me Smile”. No reason to start another.

@Jamesp. Great topic & fun to read replies. My awkward moment was also an extremely embarrassing one. When getting a massage at Hero there’s a knock on the door & 2 plain clothed cops enter. They were being raided. One took the masseur out & the other (rookie) tells me to stand up. Well, I was literally caught with my pants down & at full attention. After a few more cops looked in I was told to get dressed & wait outside. No questions were asked of me & no info was taken. As a result, Hero was closed for a brief time. Thankfully, no hidden cameras or Robert Kraft like treatment.

@Jakub lee. This is your 5th thread started on this escort. 4 of the 5 threads have been reported to the moderators for TOS violations and removed. You have already asked this question & received your answer. When a moderator takes action on a thread & deletes it, then, the subject is closed. It is not to be asked over & over again.

The NY POST had its own theory. Very interesting. https://nypost.com/2019/05/05/how-game-of-thrones-just-set-up-sansa-to-take-out-cersei/?utm_campaign=iosapp&utm_source=mail_app

IMO, after watching last night’s episode, I think Cersei will meet her death by being beheaded as revenge for Missandei. Or, just being strapped to the dragon & flying off into the sunset.

@WilliamM. I’m with you on this one. A very funny musical. Good acting, singing, & dancing. Liked that it’s been updated from the movie to address the current times. Very likable cast & the joke about how River Dancing got started was a real hoot. It received 11 Tony nominations. I did like Tootsie better than The Prom. Today was the shows 1st Wednesday matinee & it was a full house.

Had Mike @ TSS. Young looking Asian who put his heart & soul into giving me a relaxing massage. It was my 1st experience in having the masseur hop on my butt & ride me while giving me a back massage. Different & felt good... Speaks little English, so, very quiet. The room I had was clean, small, & in the rear. It had a shower. Spa seemed busy. I’ve always found the masseurs to be polite & friendly. I go to TSS because of its closeness to the theater district. Easy walk from Tootsie to the Spa.

I, too, agree on both shows. Hope they return for a 2nd season. Very likable cast.

Here’s Bryan Cranston discussing Network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2juPyPuy-U FYI: It’s a long 2 hr play with no intermission. Mad dash to the restrooms... Discount tickets are occasionally available at TKTS.

Saw Network. Bryan Cranston does an amazing job in the role of news anchor Howard Beale. He definitely gives what should be a Tony Award winning performance. He is so believable & makes a great connection with the audience. The play is based on the 1976 movie with the famous line: “I'm mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” The show is scheduled to close June 8th. Two other movies are now shows on Broadway: Tootsie & Beetlejuice.

@azdr0710. Yes, that’s the way he sings it in the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTnnLaIvtk8

I’ve seen the original productions of Oklahoma several times, so, when I heard about this contemporary version of the play, I was interested. It’s advertised as: “ this is OKLAHOMA! as you’ve never seen or heard it before – reimagined for the 21st century.” Well, it didn’t work for me. This low budget production with no scenery and a cast of unknowns didn’t keep me interested. For some of the audience the highlight seemed to be picking up a free slice of cornbread during intermission. The Circle in the Square’s stage led to many distractions as the house lights are on during most of the show leaving you looking at the audience across from you. Also, the actors stand & sing on both ends of the stage making it feel like you’re watching a tennis match going back & forth. The 5 piece orchestra was very good. And the cast was very PC. Even had a woman in a wheelchair. I agree the lead singers weren’t up to par with what one has come to expect from a Broadway musical. I realize it’s still in previews but I don’t think any adjustments can help. There’s a very awkward & long ballet number at the start of Act 2. I was told this had to do with the original production. It didn’t work for me. Had I not seen the original production of Oklahoma, I might have enjoyed it more. Let’s see what the critics have to say when it officially opens.

Took in a Wednesday matinee of this most bizarre play that has great acting & script. FYI. Unless you want to get squirted with blood, don’t sit in the front row. I guess they failed to mention this to some very surprised people. And, when the curtain opens be prepared to see a mountain of dead, anatomical correct, nude Roman Soldiers. Some will come to life. What this mountain of dead bodies is doing on stage is a large part of the plot. It’s a 90 min play with no intermission. So, if you’re planing on walking out, do it very quietly. Three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen, and Tony Award winner Julie White star on Broadway in the world premiere of Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, the new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow, Taylor Mac. Directed by five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe, Gary is set just after the blood-soaked conclusion of William Shakespeare’s first tragedy, Titus Andronicus. SYNOPSIS: It's the fall of the Roman Empire, and the years of bloody battles are over. The civil war has ended. The country has been stolen by madmen, and there are casualties everywhere. Two very lowly servants are charged with cleaning up the bodies. It’s only 400 B.C.—but it feels like the end of the world.

The name of the show is "Ain't Too Proud" The life and times of The Temptations. There have been several Broadway shows that cover the lives of famous performers, some have succeeded, while others failed. I see this one as a hit. The performance I saw was sold out as word of this show is spreading. It's very lively and entertaining. At times you feel you're at a rock concert. The audience was truly getting into the music and amazing dancing. What I enjoy about shows like these is that the writers take you behind the scenes of their lives, to both the good and bad times. What you see on stage during a concert doesn't necessarily reflect what's going on back stage. Wonderful acting and singing. Thought it was great when the orchestra played the last songs on stage with the actors. The Temptations songs have survived over the years and 27 members have been added to their group. I really enjoyed it.

A short clip from The Ferryman.

Took in a Wednesday matinee of The Ferryman. First off, no issue with the Irish accents. I loved this play. A wonderful story with an amazing cast. Several young actors who do an excellent job. Early in the play it’s a bit confusing as to the relationships of this large family. However, as the play moves on, it becomes clear. If you plan on seeing it, don’t let anyone tell you the ending. It’s leaves the entire cast & audience shocked & in tears. The 2018-2019 Broadway season has been dominated by excellent plays rather than musicals. I truly enjoyed The Life Span of a Fact (now closed), True West, & The Ferryman. Next up, Network.

You’re in the Lounge. Not the place for politics. Just sayin’ ?

Just finished watching Season 1 of Merli on Netflix. If you enjoyed "Rita", you'll like this one... Merli is a Philosophy teacher at a mostly white High School in Spain. He's well liked by the students but his methods are questioned by the parents, staff and administrators. Merli has a gay and popular/handsome son named Bruno who's in his class. He's not out and is struggling with his feelings which have resulted in him becoming a serious discipline problem in the classroom. Each episode is named after a philosopher and the classroom discussions are most interesting. The students have typical teenage problems such as dealing with friendship, trust, family, divorce, death, sex, alcohol, romance, homosexual feelings, dropping out of school, and fights. When an openly gay student joins the class, Bruno tries to distance himself from him and calls him a "faggot". Later, a friendship will develop and the last episode has a wonderful scene of the two dancing together. It has subtitles and a class in speed reading would help. It did make figuring out some of the adult and student relationships a bit confusing. The HS actors are good looking and very likeable. Season 1 has 13 Episodes that move quickly. I enjoyed it.

@big dale. The best way to get the Moderators attention is to send a report.

The movie, Boy Erased, shows the horrors of gay conversion theory.

Saw The Cher Show and found it most entertaining & lively. At times it felt like being at a live concert. The 3 ladies who played Cher did an amazing job but the one who captured it best was Stephanie J Block, the elder Cher. Lots of costume changes along with some of her most memorable Bob Mackie designs. Nice to listen to songs you already knew but hadn’t heard in awhile. Great voices & solid dance numbers. Cher’s life has been out there for a long time. Many of her ups & downs made headlines. The actor who plays Sonny, sounded just like him. Well done! I enjoyed it.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/04/the-chaos-of-american-manhood-in-true-west

It stars Ethan Hawke and Paul Dano and is playing at the American Airlines Theatre. There's a reason why some plays are referred to as 'theater of the absurd' and True West definitely fits that category, it's truly bizarre and unpredictable but in a good way. Austin (Paul Dano) is house sitting for his mom while she's on a trip to Alaska. His one chore is to water the plants. Suddenly, his brother Lee (Ethan Hawke) shows up broke and just back from the desert. Right from the start there's brotherly rivalry. Austin, the more responsible one, is working on a script that he's counting on to make it big and Lee, the carefree one, is becoming quite the distraction. Lots of drama develops between the brothers when Lee joins Austin's producer for a golf game. Their relationship now becomes destructive and their past behavior unfolds. Issues about Dad as being a drunk and hopeless are discussed but no dad in the cast. After the destruction of the kitchen and the death of all the plants, Mom shows up. She's rather simple and seems clueless, keeps wanting to see Picasso thinking he's coming to visit the local museum. Her reaction to the kitchen mess is not what one would have expected. I thoroughly enjoyed this play. It's extremely well written and acted. A story that will captivate your attention from beginning to end. I'm glad I saw it.